Types of LTM Flashcards
What are the different types of LTM?
Episodic
Semantic
Procedural
Explain Episodic LTM
Episodic memory is the memory of specific personal events and is heavily influenced by emotions. It is an explicit memory and an example is - a wedding
Explain Semantic LTM
Semantic memory is the memory of facts and general knowledge. It is an eplicit memory and an example is - knowing that the capital of France is Paris
Explain Procedural LTM
Procedural memory is the memory of how to do something and is motor/action based. It is an implicit memory and an example is - riding a bike.
What is the difference between an explicit and implicit memory?
Explicit memories are easy to put into words and are only recalled if consciously thought about.
Implicit memories are harder to put into words and dont require conscious thought to be recalled.
What brain areas are used in Episodic memories?
The prefrontal cortex is associated with initial coding of episodic memories. Memories of different parts of the event are located in the different visual, auditory areas of the brain and are connected together in the hippocampus.
What brain areas are used in Semantic memories?
Some evidence suggests the involvement of the hippocampus and related areas while others believe there is usage of several brain areas.
What brain areas are used in Procedural memories?
Mainly associated with the neocortex brain areas of primary motor cortex, cerebellum and prefrontal cortex and DOESN’T need the hippocampus to function.
Research support of different types of LTM - case study CLIVE WEARING
Clive Wearing obtained a rare brain injury from a virus that attacked an area of the brain crucial for memory.
Procedural memory was intact
Semantic memory was partially damaged
Episodic memory was badly damaged
Research support of different types of LTM - TULVING
6 ppts including Tulving and his wife were injected with particles of radioactive gold to track brain blood flow in a PET scan. Tulving scanned brains whilst they though of semantic or episodic memories.
When ppts thought about semantic blood flow increased in anterior temporal lobe
When ppts thought about episodic blood flow increased in frontal lobes
Hippocampus was active in both conditions
EVALUATION - Are there different types of LTM?
STRENGTHS
- research support - clive wearing and tulving
- good real life application
LIMITATION
- could be reductionist - hippocampus active in both epsiodic and semantic memories